New Mission, New Diary

Daisychain1

Hi MM2015

I've finally got around to reading your diary. I'm so glad you went with the little monthly money saving challenges. How's the grocery one going? I've just put up a list of other possible challenges for the months ahead on my diary so have a look and see if you can think of anymore.

DC1

MoneyMission2015

Hi DC1, thanks for popping in. I've set my grocery budget & my first week went well. I will keep updating & hopefully this will focus me on keeping on track with the debt busting.


I will check out your diary later to see what other challenges you're thinking of, might join you on a few.

twiggy86

Hi MM2015!


Sounds like you're doing really well so far! Groceries has been a big downfall for me in the not-so distant past! I'm finding meal planning along with actually checking the cupboards/freezer is really helping me cut down! One question - is there a reason you get your shopping delivered? Not sure how much delivery is, but if you could go to the store and do it yourself then surely that's an instant saving (noted you said you have a gas guzzler so if delivery isn't that much then it could even out if you live far away from the store).

MoneyMission2015

Hi twiggy, thanks for your post.


In answer to your question, I don't usually have my shopping delivered. I've had it delivered a few times, but usually go to the store. The reason I did it this time was because my daughter was unwell all weekend & my husband was away so I couldn't go out, so I ordered it instead.


However, I do find that when I have it delivered I am much more likely to stick to my shopping list. When we go shopping ourselves we always just put whatever catches our eye in the trolley. This is why we were overspending so much on groceries. The amount I calculated we'd spent is an eyewatering amount! I'm definitely going to be more strict on us now, maybe take cash instead of our cards because then we have to stick to the budget.


As I've now set the groceries as my challenge for this month I am open to any suggestions for saving money.


Out of interest, when do you do your meal plan? And do you just do a weekly meal plan or do you plan further ahead?


I'd like to get in to this as one of the things I find really frustrating is getting in from work & having to think of what to cook for tea. Then sometimes I decide what I want for tea & find I've not got an essential ingredient :rotfl:One of my tasks I've set for myself as an ongoing monthly task is to think of 2 new meals to add to our list, because although we will eat almost anything & have a long list of recipes we really love, some of them are time consuming so in the week I just need quick, simple dishes that we can throw together quickly, but I need enough of these that we don't have the same thing too often & get bored of it. That's when we go off track & start ordering takeaways!


Any help is greatly appreciated!

twiggy86

I tend to do a weekly meal plan. I start writing it on a Friday starting with any meals that we didn't use the week before or stuff that needs using, then move to what's in the freezer and then anything else I fancy. I then write my shopping list and go shopping on a Saturday. I love that I can decide the night before what I want from the meal plan (I just have a list of meals rather than Monday X, Tuesday Y etc), take anything necessary out the freezer and voila! Rather than coming in from work and trying to come up with something!

I also try and do a batch cook of at least one thing on a Sunday particularly of things that are more time consuming but freeze well. I know if I came in and had to start slaving over the cooker for an hour I would resort to takeaway instead! I currently have a freezer full of cottage pie, lasagne, thai curry, bolognaise/chilli sauce!


Also, I have an envelope in my purse with the shopping budget in there so I know exactly how much I've got left and how much I've spent. All top ups etc come out of the envelope. I do cringe slightly at the checkout when I have to get my envelope out though!

twiggy86

Oh and if you're brave enough - I also womble receipts! (Again I do cringe slightly as I do this!) If you shop at Tesco you can gain clubcard points or money off next shop, asda you can do the price guarantee (although I've never got lucky on this!).

twiggy86

Sorry - one more thing! You said when "we" go shopping - not sure who the we is, but could you go on your own? I NEVER take my OH shopping as he is a sucker for "it's only a pound"! Generally at least twice as expensive when he comes with me! I tend to be more disciplined at sticking to my list - although I cant deny the occasional wobble!

MoneyMission2015

Thank you so much for the help twiggy. I'm going to spend my Friday evening of this week doing a stocktake of my cupboards & then come up with my meal plan & shopping list. I have a small list of meals to start me off with.


The 'we' is all the family, me, OH & our 2 children. I do prefer going on my own actually, so I might lay some subtle hints this week :rotfl:


I haven't heard of wombling receipts. Is it picking up receipts that other people have left behind & adding the points on if they haven't used a reward card? If so, I have done this a few times in the past but only if I've used the self serve checkouts in the supermarket.


I've got one of those wide purses that has a few separate compartments so I could probably get away with putting the weeks shopping budget in to one of these compartments & keep the rest of the months at home n an envelope, then just restock my purse each week.


Thank you, it's helping already as I am finding all these tips & for once I'm actually taking the steps to take action!

Daisychain1

I know what you mean about coming home from work and not having a meal organised. The last thing you want to do is come home after a busy day and spend ages in the kitchen.. This will be another advantage of meal planning I guess. Not only saving money but time and energy too.

Have a good day

MoneyMission2015

Summary of this week is just okay.


I've not really overspent on anything & have done well on my no spending days, but now that I am really getting in to this moneysaving thing it has opened my eyes to how much money I waste.


But the good thing is those days are behind me. I had to get a few presents for my mum this week & I kept my budget in mind, checked the sales racks in some of the clothes shops, bought a lot of nice things & didn't go over my budget. I am happy with that.


The joint account is on track, all the bills are accounted for in my diary & I've ticked off the ones that have come out so far.


I did go a little off track last night though. I had such a long hard day in work & my week has been completely all over the place anyway because of various things happening that have changed my usual routine. So I got home & had lots of housework to do before I could even think about our dinner, so I rang my OH & asked him to pick something up on the way home. I know I shouldn't have done it & the money spent would have been better spent elsewhere, so I am definitely going to focus on this meal plan this weekend.


On the plus, I am baking cakes tonight :j


I'll update properly later, got to crack on with my to do list!